Living as More than Conquerors

Do you sometimes feel adrift and cut off from GOD? Do you sometimes wonder if GOD is ignoring your prayers and supplication?

When we repent of our sinful nature and call out to JESUS for salvation through His death, burial and resurrection, we are made more than conquerors! When we don’t experience the victory of a conqueror, it not the situation or circumstance that is the problem, it is because we aren’t living AS conquerors. Just imagine if you found a homeless person that seemed to be without hope or resource, and after you attempt to help him, you find that he is actually a multimillionaire! You would go to him and say, why are you not living the prosperous, victorious and successful life you have all the means and resources to live?

Our GOD and Father asks us the same question: Why are you not living the victorious life that you are entitled too and have all the means and resources to live?

It says in Psalm 118:24 — This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.
1Thessalonians 5:16-18 — Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of GOD in CHRIST JESUS concerning you.

We tend to rejoice and be glad in the days that are good for us, where circumstances and situations in our lives come together easily and happily, with no problems or difficulties.

But it says in Psalm 118:24, “THIS IS THE DAY which the LORD hath made; we WILL rejoice and be glad in it.” That means every and any day!

And GOD says, Pray without ceasing. In EVERYTHING give thanks: for this is the will of GOD in CHRIST JESUS concerning you. So GOD wants us to be thankful no matter what the situation or circumstance that comes into our lives. Circumstances and situations in our lives may be divinely providential, forced on us from the enemy, or created by us. Regardless of how these “things” or “events” wind up in our lives, it is not for us to reason why; only to remember that GOD wants to and will use all of it for our good no matter where it comes from. At no time should we let them obscure the face of GOD. A wise man once said,” Circumstances prove not to hide GOD but to be a place to meet Him.”

The selfish sinful world is constantly whining about its circumstances and most of the LORD’s people are rarely better. It is not for us as saints to question or beg GOD to change them either. The Apostle Paul said, I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content. Yet most of us fretfully and restlessly chafe for change. However, until we are willing to allow CHRIST to work the victory in the midst of present circumstances, be they good or evil, why would we suppose we could have victory in any other circumstance?

Fretting or fighting, grinning and bearing it with dogged determination “to suffer through,” will not win us victory. Victory in CHRIST comes only when we in acceptance of all situations and circumstances submit them to GOD the Father for His glory and purpose. This is where the joy of the LORD becomes our strength as it says in Nehemiah 8:10. Then GOD is able to work all things together for good to them who love GOD and we find rest for our souls. In the story of the Ten Boom family, they were put in a concentration camp by the Nazis for helping Jews. Betsy Ten Boom, in spite of the horrible living conditions, tortuous hard work, pain, and suffering, was able to see the beauty of GOD around her and embraced the joy and strength of the LORD.

I heard of an old saintly farmer who understood this truth and lived by it. He wrote “GOD is love” on his weather vane. Someone asked, “Are you saying GOD’s love is as changeable as the wind?”
“No,” he said. “Whichever way the wind blows, GOD is love.”

That story reminds me of something GOD told me. It was as if it were audible, but not so any one else around me could hear it. My daughter and I work commercial shows as sales reps. We do a lot of travel and some outdoor shows even in bad weather. As we got ready very early in the morning to travel to one outdoor show, we noticed the storm moving in the direction of the show location. “LORD, please stop this storm from coming to the show area, please make it not rainy or windy at the show.” I heard the LORD reply to me, “Why are you telling me what to do? Instead ask how you should respond to what I give you!”

I was immediately humbled and contrite! I told my daughter what the LORD had said to me and from that very moment we both committed to always in every situation to stop complaining about it to GOD and instead, ask “LORD how would You have us respond in the circumstance or situation we are in? How can we show the love of CHRIST to others who are there with us? Help us to be who You would have us to be today where ever we are and to lift up others by being a blessing and ministry to them in the midst of what ever they are dealing with!”

Now every time we are obedient to this answer from the LORD, we are victorious! It seems especially now at this time of our history that our days are filled with hurry and worry. But GOD’s first command to us is the one He gave Moses and the Israelites: 1Sa 12:16 — “Now then, stand still and see this great thing the LORD is about to do before your eyes!” Ps. 46:10 — “Be still, and know that I am God!” Ps. 37:7 —“Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for Him."

Although standing still may seem like the last thing you should or even could do, it is then that GOD is able to kill our panic and give us His rest. It doesn’t matter what the situation, weather, sickness, job or lack of, money management or lack of, house, vehicles, possessions, or dealing with people: give all to GOD and listen for His direction and leading; then He will turn IMPOSSIBLE into I’M POSSIBLE through His work in and through you. Phl 4:13— I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. Gal 2:20 — I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

GOD demands the impossible because He knows only through Him are all things possible. In order to be more than conquerors, we must be willing to submit all things, great and small for His divine wisdom, direction and provision. But GOD in His omnipotence, knows we must be hemmed in, “shut up to faith” and “crowded to CHRIST” as L. E. Maxwell explains in his books, Born Crucified and Crowded to CHRIST, before we will turn to Him for His rest and allow Him to work in and through us. We have to be walled in by trial, circumstance, disappointment, and despair many times before we will turn our hearts and minds upward for Him to rescue us. JESUS was not sent to take us out of the storm but to take us through the storm.

So many Christians, myself included are tossed, feverish and restless, agonizing and unsettled over any given situation. Why is that? It is because we are like a young ox who has not learned and become accustom to the yoke. Fear of the unknown causes us to cling even to the hurtful past because at least we know what it is. And yet we are authorized to partake of sublime joy and rest when we take the offer of our Saviour as it says in Matthew 11:28-30 —
"Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."

If we look at the outward appearance of our circumstances, we will become discouraged, fearful and depressed. Then we say it is hard work to please GOD and He gives us a heavy cross to bear. It is only when we see that when we are yoked with CHRIST, He doesn’t taken away the heavy burdens, He bears them, with His shoulders, so that part of the yoke on ours is easy and light.

Sadly, our unbelief causes our disobedience which brings with it, covetousness, pride, worldliness, and sin.In our unbelief, we cannot accept that GOD has overcome the world and made us conquerors. We covet things of the world: money, possessions, fame and honor. In our pride we say we need these things to share the Gospel and to honor GOD, but in truth it is only ourselves we wish to honor and esteem. Our pride will not let us as teachers, pastors, and Christian workers to be humble learners. We allow our families, churches, and businesses to be dominated by the world and its views and pay homage to the lettered and the influential. Rather than be looked upon and called “ignorant and unlearned, we begin to adjust, trim and square our selves to the world’s standards instead of GOD’s. But remember and be encouraged: “I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
— John 16:33
You are of GOD, dear children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. — 1 John 4:4